The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-25
BEFORE THE CAMERA.
How Famous Politicians Behave in Tn
PhOtogranh GALLERY.

tells some interesting stories about the
bearing of our leading statesmen before
the camera:
II have posed all the members Of the
Cabinet and most of the Senators and
Congressman, said he. ''Some OF them
fall into position with all the grace OF
professional actors, but the majority
give me great deal of trouble Sena-
tor Edmunds is one of the worst sub
jects have ever had. on account Of the
expression he invariably assumes at the
critical moment He will look pleasant
while being posed. smile when tohf he,
is all right and beam on the black cloth
while the artist is making his prepara-
tiOns. but the moment the cloth IS re-
moved fierce look comes into his eyes,
his muscles grow rigid and his whole
appearance is that of Sepoy about to-
be fired from q cannon. When requested
to take on more pleasant expression
he complies with a smile, which lasts
till the camera is again uncovered
Then again comes that fierce "rll-die--
if-Emust" expression. 1 could never
catch aplea5ant look on his face.
'.Mr. Blaine is a model sitter. He
falls into position gracefully and needs
little aid from the poser. He is not
easily pleased. however. He is pho
tographic critic of the keenest kind and
can detect the slightest faults in the
proofs. Sometimes it has taken halls
dozen sittings to satisfy him.
Senator Evarts does not hook wels
in his photographs. because he insists
on posing himself. He has large
nose, you know, and his chief anxiety
is to conceal it as much as possible
Since generous lofty nose can not. by
any effort of art, be transformed into
a delicate Grecian feature, the Senator
is never satisfied with hjs>photographs-
Senator Sherman takes poor
picture, because he assumes smile
which is foreign to his features. If he
would only look grim and stern, as he
does outside the photograph gallery,
his face would be impressive on paste
board. even if it could not be called
beautiful. But the Senator tries to-
look sweetly bcnignant. and the result.
is an expression bordering on the
funny. This is invariably the case with
stern men who try to smile before the
camera.
Secretary Whitney has had but one
set of photographs taken since he has
been at the head of the Navy Depart
ment, and those were for private dis
tributiOn. Unlike most prominent mem
at the Capital, he does not care to see
his face in store windows. Curiously
enough, too, his pictures are the hand
soonest we have taken of Government.
officials. He is the only instance r
know of in Washington public life of
good looks and modesty going hand i'm
hand.
Secretary Lamar is fond of assum--
ing poetic, ethereal expression, which
comes near to utter blankness. To-
add to the impression that he is poet
far above thoughts of earth, he rum
pies his hair and lets it fall so as to-
almost cover his ears. He is fond Of
seeing his face on pasteboard and dis
tributes his pictures literally.
Senator Hoar takes well. He sits
down. clasps his chubby hands, and
lets his face resolve itself into sun
beams. He has the sweetest smile {
have ever seen on the face of public
man. He never asks for proofs, being.
satisfied from experience that the CAM
era does him justice because he does.
justice to the camera
Senator Sewell is rather trouble
some. He always wants the position
ist to pose him in such a way that the
little bald spot on his head can be con-
cealed. have tried it, and in vain
The only way it could be accomplished
would be for the Senator to place his
face horizontally to the ceiling. but.
when told him this he got angry
Senator Fry looks in his picture
quite the heavy villain. He seems
downright blood-thirsty when he faces
the camera, and no amount of persua--
sion can soften his features. / have
tried funny stories, humorous sugges--
tions and little practical jokes; but to-
no purpose. He still looked rs If IL.
was his dearest wish to be let loose
among his fellow-citizens with der
ringer.
Senator Wade Hampton is particu-
lar as to one point only-his handsome
.Dundrearies.' When we show him ID
proof, he glances at once at his side
face adornments, seems to count alt
the hairs. and if he finds one missing
he has no criticism to offer. He passes.
many minutes fondly arranging his
whiskers before taking the chair.
Senator Beck takes. perhaps, the
best picture in the Senate. His face is
strong and handsome, his bearing
manly and graceful, and his iron-gray
locks are things of beauty. And isn's
he proud of them, and dosen't he
handle them " lderly? He knows that:
his photograD IS something to be sd--
mired. so h. dos no: by any means
object TO hIving il il the windows for
sale. He gives US call reg Ilarly every
three m0atiIl.
at is pl ,t'Ir, t. pos VI. RandsK-
He has natural gr :ee. a perfect COM
mand of hi. f.ltur... H.cll assume,
any expression. Hnte.ri ie BY the i,l--
strume1t bsfor: hin. Liz SeaahO.-
Hoar, he never his To come bI"n. f1: 10
second sit'iay.